Nevada County picayune., 1887-01-19
A SENSIBLE GIRL.

tblnk that little Blunche F0ilet lshOuld have been the first of the |graduating class to wear an en- gagement ring!"
 IL was rather strange. The three girls sat side by side on the veranda of the Acapulco hotel at Long Branch Theresa Middleton, tall, handsome and stylish, with jetty hair, large, dark eyes and yellow roses in her hair, Sophie Dean, slight and graceful, type of the most exquisite blonde love Illness, and Blanche Toilet, the fancee of the group, an insiGniii- cant. chesnut- haired lassie, pretty enough when one came to examine her features, but nothing beyond 2 the average.
 "How soon are you to be mar ried, Blanche?" asked Sophie.
 'I don't know; as soon as Guys father returns from Europe, l sup pose "
 And are you to have your rousseau from Paris' Oh, dear, wish it was l." said Theresa, envi. ouslv. You scheming little thing! Who would have suspected you of captivating a rich husband" . q don't care whether he is rich or not" said Blanche, firing up. "l only know love him and that's , enough.'
 1t wouldn't be enough for me-" said Theresa. "I must have cash as well as caresses. But come. girls. it's time to dress for tea. Those handsome young Cubans will sit opposite us again, and even d hankering filtration is better than nothing. Blanche won't join us, but we don't care for that" What funny old man, all in snuff color, that was that sat next to Us this afternoon at dinner"' laughed Sophie. "And how he stared at us. shouldn't wonder If be were some rich widower.' \ "Horrid old fogy!" said Theresa. Do you know, girls. he has taken the next room to ours? saw l them carrying antediluvian trunk in there little while ago. Depend upon it, he's the first cousin to Methusaleh! r n sure 1 don't | know what such wretched old 7 creatures want at place like Long |. Branch Why don't they stay at home and nurse their rheumatism in their own back garrets?'
 Hush, Theresa," whispered Miss Follet. glancing around. "He is sitting on the other bench, just beyond, He will hear you"
 "Who cares if he doesW said Miss Middleton, insolent in the pride and flush of her young beau- ty.
 The gray-haired old man, who had been sitting with both hands claped oyer his gold-hearded cane, and his eyes intently fixed on the changing glories of the sunset sea, here looked up.
 Il suppose young lady" said he, "you thlnk that the old have no right to exist. Perhaps when half a century or so have rolled over your own head you may think diff fferently on the subject" ' Teresa colored and tossed her ,- head. Sophie Dean Uttered as rose aud shook out her tounched muslin robes preparatory to going up stairs. but Blanche Follet lm' gered behind after the other two had swept away, and glanced pleadingly up into the old mans face.
 T hope they have not hurt your feelings, sir" she said, wlst' fully. "They mean no harm, only they are young and foolish"
 No, my dear, mo-" said the old man kindly. "You, at all events. have a gentler nature and more womanly temperament
 The August moon was at the iuil that night, and long after midnight Sophie and Theresa were praciIclng on the guitar and singing sentiment' al songs, when the waiter tapped at the door with message.
 "Please, miss, No 49's compll ments, and 'e as a bad 'eadache and can't sleep. and wouldn't the young ladies oblige him by leavin hoff a a-singing.' v
 "What nonsensew cried Theresa
 G.Is F,.. t,A d :.